Energy Security in the East Mediterranean Region: A Threat or an Opportunity for Countries’ National Security? A Comparative Analysis-The Cases of Cyprus and Israel

Abstract

This Ph.D. thesis has been prepared and submitted to the department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of the Peloponnese. It started with some initial thoughts about energy and security issues at a nation’s state level that eventually became a concrete study which examines the chosen topic thoroughly and contributes to the existing literature and academic society. Energy is a driving force for communities and energy security of an outmost importance for them. In this thesis the energy security is studied in the broader area of the east Mediterranean region and its effect on the national security of some countries located there. The main research question was whether energy security is a threat for the national security of a country and/or an opportunity for it. Other research sub-question was to identify the parameters that both energy security and national security notions consists of since it would be easier to understand any functional relationship between the parameters and then be able to study them. The selection of the two countries, Israel and Cyprus, happened since they both have common characteristics that would be useful to compare them. Based on the analysis of this thesis an updated methodology is given where the necessary stages are described regarding how to design and implement a conceptual framework under the view of International Political Economy. In addition, an interdisciplinary approach is followed, which gives a fresh view of how things happen. The examined relationship between the energy security and the national security of a nation-state was examined and studied under the International Political Economy umbrella and in particular through the lenses of the theory of realism. The main research question(s) that were initially set are finally addressed. The results and outcomes of the research process which is described in details in this thesis give useful conclusions about the examined nation-states and consequently policy proposals and recommendations are given for both short and long-term periods.